Kidnapped Nigeria oil workers freed

The Delta may be rich in oil but the people are poor

The oil company Chevron has said that all its employees kidnapped in Nigeria's Niger delta region on Friday have been freed.

Twenty-four oil workers were seized by youths reportedly supporting the struggle in the Niger Delta area for a greater share of Nigeria's oil wealth.

"The employees including two expatriates and 22 Nigerians were carrying out pipeline right-of-way work in Benin River when they were confronted by the youths who were heavily armed and abducted to two different villages in the area," an oil statement said.

The men work for a firm contracted by Chevron to help build an oil pipeline.

Chevron produces about 400,000 barrels per day out of Nigeria's total production of some two million daily barrels of oil.

Militants in the Niger delta region have frequently taken foreign workers hostage in order to draw attention to their cause.